I'm probably going to offend every young woman that visits this site (I include young men of the same age to be less controversial.) Young women of 18 - 20 years of age might be mature in the eyes of the law but they are not fully mature. I have worked in several art colleges and seen young students of such an age regularly taken advantage of by the staff. I think it is unprofessional but young people at such an age are adults and they make their own choices. I have a friend who still teaches at an art college who regularly has an 18-20 year old on his arm (he's 51) and it amazes me just how gullible these young women are. He just uses them as some sort of self confirmation. Yet I can see him regularly embarrassed by them as we sit round drinking and chatting. They are young and intelligent but they are still on the whole naive. I often wonder if he is able to get a woman nearer his own age. I often ask him what he talks about with these young women and all he can say is 'things'.

I recently dated a 32 year old and came away thinking we originated on different planets. We had a lot of interests in common (art being the main one) and she liked my CD collection which to my horror she labeled 'retro'. I do have some contemporary music in there, honest! The age gap meant we grew up in different worlds with different perceptions. I'm sure there are relationships that work with such large age differences but I would imagine they are the exception rather than the rule.

And yes! When I was 18-20, I too thought I was mature. Now I realise all adults are just children but older.